After defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, Monday night’s FA Cup tie against Chelesa is big for Manchester United.
I don’t necessarily mean for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his prospects of getting the manager’s job full-time, but for the players.
They have been on a great run since Jose Mourinho left but two defeats in a row against elite opposition would see the old questions resurface — is the manager really the problem or are the squad just not good enough?
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side lose to Chelsea in the FA Cup, the same questions will resurface
I watched the PSG game with interest and there was one glaring weakness with United. They don’t have anyone in midfield who can dictate the tempo as Michael Carrick used to.
PSG did have that player, Marco Verratti, on Tuesday night. I’ve been a big fan of his for years and he showed what United are desperately crying out for.
He’s so clever on the ball. He can slow the game down, or speed it up, according to his team’s need.
Nemanja Matic does the destructive side of the midfield job very well but he’s no Carrick — or even Fernandinho, who is so important for Manchester City.
Yes, Paul Pogba could do it, but why would you want to restrict him as a holding midfielder when he can cause problems in the final third?
United don't have any midfielders who can dictate the tempo as Michael Carrick used to
At the moment, they are using Matic and Ander Herrera together in order to give Pogba freedom in a 4-3-3, but they are not as well-balanced a pair as Verratti-Marquinhos were for PSG.
The right players aren’t easy to find. The next generation are showing promise and I’ll keep a close eye on Harry Winks and Declan Rice.
They both look like they have the technical ability and Winks is getting useful experience in big games. Is Rice a future Manchester United player? He’s physically strong and only just turned 20, so let’s see.
United’s attacking players are always capable of scoring goals and might do so at Chelsea on Monday night.
But in these big games, control of midfield is often the key. What a shame for Solskjaer that Carrick, the guy sitting next to him in the dug-out at Stamford Bridge, doesn’t put on his boots any more.
RASHFORD OR LUKAKU?Some people say competition for places is always healthy. I don’t think that’s necessarily true —
